Steering Knuckle for a Vehicle

Abstract

A steering knuckle to be used with the steering assembly of a vehicle such as a farming tractor is disclosed. The steering knuckle comprises preconfigured attachment areas where attachment element(s) or bracket(s) can be releasably yet rigidly secured. The attachment areas may be further reinforced with additional knuckle material (e.g. metal, metallic alloy). The steering knuckle therefore provides predetermined and preconfigured attachment location(s) where a wheel-replacing track system can be secured, thereby allowing the track system to be mounted to the vehicle while avoiding attachment at inconvenient or weak locations.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present patent application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 724,111, entitled “Steering Knuckle for a Vehicle” and filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 21, 2012; the content of which is incorporated herein by reference, which claims the benefits of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 579,701, entitled “Steering Knuckle for a Vehicle” and filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 23, 2011, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to steering knuckles (also referred to as steering housings) and more particularly to steering knuckles usually used with the front axles of heavy vehicles such as, but not limited to, agricultural vehicles, construction vehicles, industrial vehicles, and forestry vehicles.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Soil compactio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a steering knuckle that allows for a more robust and convenient installation of a track system to a vehicle. The steering knuckle is designed to properly receive and support the load of the track system installed upon it. Additionally, the steering knuckle provides predetermined attachment areas, which helps avoid installing the track system in inconvenient or weak locations on the vehicle, which could lead to premature wearing or failure. Therefore, the technical effect of this invention is the improved durability and efficiency of track system installations on vehicles.

Problems solved by technology

Soil compaction and floatation have always been important issues for farmers operating tractors and other farming vehicles in their fields.

However, as track systems are typically aftermarket products, track system manufacturers must generally manufacture attachment brackets made specifically for each model of tractors, or more generally, for each model of vehicles, to which the track systems can be installed.

However, having to manufacture specific attachment brackets for each model of tractors can be quite expensive.

Furthermore, tractors are typically not configured to be equipped with track systems.

Hence, mounting track systems to a tractor generally necessitates the attachment of the track systems to the tractor at locations which, in some case, were not initially designed to support and sustain the additional load and strain imparted by the track systems during use.

However, as the steering knuckles of a tractor are generally not made nor configured to support track systems, these installations may, in some cases, cause premature wearing of steering components of the tractor or even premature failure of those components.

These installations can also cause premature wearing of components of the track systems (i.e. the traction band, road wheels, idler wheels, etc.) due, for instance, to misalignment between the track systems and the vehicle.

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